On Sunday 23rd January 2022, 8 members of Teesdale Athletics Club made the trip over to Carlisle Racecourse to take part in the Carlisle Resolution 10K and 5K races.  The organisers, Sport in Action, were celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 10K run and there was an excellent turnout. 

First off was the 5K race with Andrew and Steven Mounter competing.  The run started with an uphill climb before turning onto quieter lanes and finishing back at the racecourse.  Steven had a strong finish beating his Dad by 15 seconds to finish in 34:22, with Andrew crossing the line in 34:37. 

The 10K race started a few minutes later with competitors making their way uphill for a good 3 kilometres.  The course then turned off onto lanes but continued to be undulating throughout.  After another long hill up to the 9K mark, the race turned back towards the racecourse with a welcome downhill section before turning into the finish line in front of the racecourse grandstand.  First home for Teesdale Athletics was Alan Bray in 51:42,followed by Dave Raymond in 56:50, closely followed by Louise Franks in 56:51.  Eleanor Buck crossed the line in 60:16, Christine Whitford in 64;37 and Alison Mounter in 69:56.  

Congratulations to both Louise and Eleanor who gained personal bests on the day. 

The 5^th round of the NYSD cross country competition took place at Ormesby Hall on Sunday 9^th December.  A fairly flat course, this should have been a relatively speedy race under normal circumstances but it was not to be.  Because of the recent rain, the 6 members of Teesdale AC who travelled to the event were greeted with a sea of mud, especially around the start and finish areas. After the junior races, which churned up the surface even more, the women completed two laps of the course, and found staying on their feet challenging. As the course made its way out along the field, the surface improved slightly and when the course turned down into the wood, the ground was thankfully much firmer. The men fared worse as theirs was the final race and they had three laps to complete.  Because of the conditions, the course was shortened and NYMAC have to be commended for putting on an excellent race under the challenging conditions.  First back for TAC women was Louise Franks 38.28, second Judith Rodwell 40.58 closely followed by Tricia Child 41.19.  For the men first back for TAC was Nigel Mawer 44.36, second David Raymond 47.34 and Peter Wilcox 49.40.

The first race of 2022 took place on 2nd January 2022.  Four members  travelled to Hartlepool on a fine but cool & breezy Sunday to compete in the Stuart Pailor Memorial Race. 

The scenic 5.5 mile course had a bit of everything: starting and finishing on tarmac with farm tracks, challenging steep descents & ascents through the beautiful Nesbitt Dene and even a disused railway line. 

Dave Raymond finished first in 44:44, followed by Barbara Crawley in 54:14, then Amanda Pettitt in 1:05:04.  Unfortunately Judith Rodwell took a tumble near the start and was unable to complete the run.

The last race of 2021 took place on Tuesday 28th December 2021, four members, supported by family and friends, travelled to Ripon to take part in the Jolly Holly Jog.  The fog and rain just cleared for the start of the 10k race organised by Ripon Runners.  This year the race had a new start and finish at Hell Wath Nature Reserve, with the multi-terrain course taking in Studley Deer Park and  Fountains Abbey. 

The volunteer marshals did a great job at keeping the runners on track along the way.  Great scenery, steep inclines and muddy, slippery conditions made for a challenging and interesting run. 

First home for Teesdale Athletics was Rhys Foster with a time of 57:28, followed by Eleanor Buck in 1:11:33, Judith Rodwell in 1:13:46  and Gail Foster in 1:18:36. Judith was the first veteran female across the line in her age category.  Eleanor, Gail and Rhys were all running their first 10k runs representing TAC.